Using Social Media To Rally Support for Those in Need

In the social media, marketing or communications industry we all talk about social media in terms of how it is about people, about relationships really.  Despite talking the talk however, we often don’t walk the walk. It is the reason why many of us have to constantly “poke” our colleagues to remind them what social is really all about.  It is not about push communications.  It is not about one-sided advertising.  It is about individuals and human-beings who have basic needs.

Over the last couple of days I have witnessed wonderful examples of how social media is used with people in mind.  In fact, when done correctly we notice it.  Often times there is an emotional or gut response to the situation. (Thanks for this idea Krista.)

Here are two examples from just the last two days that have resonated with people in my local community:

Finding a cherished pet

If you are a pet owner, or as I like to think of it, a pet parent, your dog or cat is not just a pet.  My dog, Seven, is an important part of our family.  We would be devastated if he went missing.  That is why I always share status updates that I see about missing pets. 

Just this week one of my Facebook friends posted about Maui, a lovely dog that has been missing since New Year’s Eve.  I am not alone in doing this.  I saw this status update reshared numerous times by other friends.  I just hope she is found.

If you have seen Maui, please call 453-0887.  She went missing in the Hanwell area.

It Takes a Community

Just Friday night, and the second time in recent months, a restaurant in Fredericton caught fire.  While this in itself is unusual for our City - thankfully don’t have many fires - it is not unusual to see how our community reacts.  Within hours, efforts were under way to hold a fundraiser for the staff.  And, just how were organizers getting the message out?  Well, Facebook of course.  This is yet another example where Facebook friends rose to the occasion and shared and shared.  People care enough to want to make a difference.  They took the old adage of you tell two friends and they will tell two friends and so on to a new level with Facebook. 

A fan of the Garrison Ale House?  They wouldn't be who they are without the staff.  So checkout: 

http://www.facebook.com/FundraiserForGarrisonStaff

Prior to social media and our fantastic digital networks we have developed, we did not have the same reach and capacity to make a mark.  I truly love how people leverage social media to accomplish what was intended.  I will say it again.  It is all about people and it is all about relationships. 

How are you leveraging social media for the betterment of others?  We would love to hear your story!  

People Ask Me:  What Social Network Should I Use?

5 Reasons to Use Facebook

Last time I touched on Twitter.  So, today I will focus on Facebook.  Keep in mind that these five reasons are just touching the surface.  They are ideas to get you thinking about how and why you can and should use Facebook. 

Facebook is used by many for personal relationships only.  That is fine.  There is no law that says you must use it for work.  No one should make you feel bad for wanting to restrict it for this purpose. That being said I have broken out the reasons to use Facebook between personal and professional.  Remember, it is your choice.  Take a look.

If you want to connect on a personal level:

1. Facebook is ideal for reconnecting with old friends.  Facebook has provided me with an opportunity to reconnect with both family and old friends that I have not seen in years.  I love that aspect of Facebook.  
2. It is a great way to keep friends and family up-to-date on your experiences while travelling.  It is a one-stop shop for your photos, videos and travel diary.  
3. For some who feel technically challenged, using Facebook actually teaches you a lot of computer skills.  You learn about sharing information, how to find people, brands or groups.  You learn about security and personal information settings and much more.  These are skills that can be easily transferred to the work environment.  
4. Facebook enables us to become involved with causes that are of interest.  For example, you may join a Facebook group that focuses on a hobby.  Not only do you learn more about your hobby, but you can meet people with similar interests.  
5. If you are a parent, you should be on Facebook.  You want to keep an eye on what your kids are doing.  You want to be sure that they are safe.  Keeping a watchful eye is part of that process.

 If you want to keep things on a professional level:

1. You can connect with your customers and share information, including special deals, contests, etc.
2. You can build a community that shares your information with their friends, family and followers.  They become your brand ambassadors.
3. Facebook lets you collect information about how much traffic you have had to your page and what posts, in particular, have appealed to your community, also known as your customers.
4. Facebook makes it easy to extend your reach beyond your local borders. 
5. Using Facebook ads can be very, very, very targeted.  You can be very general or very specific.  Your choice. 

Remember, whether you use Facebook for personal and/or professional purposes, keep in mind that you are using a medium that makes it easy to share information, and depending on your privacy settings, your posts, including pictures could be public.  Don't say something that you won't want to be the headline in a newspaper, or something that would jeopardize your relationships - personal and professional.  Keep it light. Keep it fun.

As a side note, should anyone ever ask you for your password, including a potential employer, that is in my opinion, crossing the line.  Many States and other governments are implementing laws that will prohibit potential or existing employers from asking you for that information. Keep you passwords safe at all times.

In Social Media, What is Engagement?

For me, this is a big question.  I have my own opinion of course, but let's look at this issue.

I see many articles and blog discussions on this topic.  Many center on engagement being about how many "Likes" are attributed to a brand page or a specific post on a brand page.  Similarly people also look at how many shares a post has, to judge whether or not there is engagement.

I look at engagement differently however.  Let's go old school for a moment while I dust off the old 'New Collins Dictionary" and look up engage. There are 11 different definitions, some related to marriage, but here is the one relevant to this discussion: "to involve (a person or his attention) intensely."  If I look at engagement, the definition relevant to this discussion is: "a promise, obligation, or other condition that binds."

When we look at these definitions then, it becomes more apparent that engagement in  is much more than a "Like" or a "share".  A like does not involve two or more people being intensely involved in anything.  A "Like" doesn't involve an obligation or a promise to do anything.  I can say that I "like" Land Rovers, but I have no connection to the brand or any individual behind the brand.  I am  simply stating, here in this blog post, that I "like" Land Rovers.  Even if I visited their Facebook page once in my entire life and liked the page, what does that mean?  I may never return to the page and more importantly I may never buy a Land Rover.  My preference in "dream car" might change as well.  It has before.  So, while "Likes" are nice, it does not, in my opinion, mean engagement.

The other side of that equation is how does a brand respond/engage with someone who likes them?  Do they say "thank you for liking us?"  Probably not.  So, again there is no real engagement.

For me, engagement really comes down to people interacting with one another.  It is about a relationship.  It is about a conversation or multiple conversations.  Hmmm...what does this sound like?  It sounds like the goal and objective behind social media. In the words of Erik Qualman, it is about relationships and not technology.  The technology is just making it easier for us to connect as people.  Engagement is all about someone responding to a post and either asking or question or starting a discussion. Sharing a post comes a little closer to engagement. It is assumed that the person sharing was interested enough in the post to share with his or her friends/followers.  


I stress that engagement is about the relationship and wanting people that you care about to read something that could be relevant/helpful to them.  It is about them conversing with you about your brand, your product or even the friendship that you have developed.  Engagement is a relationship.  

Do you agree or disagree with my definition on engagement? 

For more reading on social media, check out The Ostrich Effect.  

What the Big Bang Theory Can Teach Us about Communications

More and more I enjoy the Big Bang Theory, and no it is not because the theme song is done by a Canadian band - although that is not a bad thing either, but I digress.

The appeal for me really is that with the comedy, there are lessons that we can all take-away and use in real life.  Here's a quick look at the lovable and absolutely amusing characters of the show:

1.  Dr. Raj Koothrappali - This sweet shy boy/man could be a blog posting all on its own.  Come to think of it, each character could have a separate posting; however, I will keep it to one for now. 

With his extreme skyness,  his "selective mutism" condition, and his desire to become a part of American culture, Raj sometimes misses the nuances of situations.  Combine this with his naivety and he sometimes speaks when he shouldn't.  Of course this provides all sorts of comic relief, but the lesson learned is really:  do your homework and know what the issues are both on the surface and, more importantly, below the surface. 

2.  Howard Wolowitz - Wow, there are really so many things to say.  Where would one start? 

Well, despite his over active need for "love" and his incredible collection of terrible pick-up lines, there is a very kind and dependable side to Howard.  I think of the episode when Penny wanted to give Leonard a surprise birthday party because he never had one when he was a kid and just how far Howard would go to help Penny make this happen for Leonard.  Despite being deathly allergic to peanuts, he ate them in order to keep Leonard at the hospital long enough to get the party together.  The lesson we can learn from Howard:  be sure that the people that you choose to be on your team are as dedicated (minus taking a such a risk with one's life) to the cause and doing things right, as you are.  Your team and your communications are only as good as your weakest link.

So really, who has the
higher IQ?
 Just Saying

3.  Penny - Over and above being the eye candy for the male viewers, Penny has a completely different set of smarts than "the boys".  Bringing a softer side of things and a completely different outlook and set of experiences, Penny has actually helped them evolve.  The lesson learned from Penny's character and interaction is:  when forming your team it is absolutely critical to ensure that you have someone who thinks differently than the rest.  This person will not only challenge you to see things differently, but help your messages be clearer and more on target, thus you will increase your probability of successfully communicating.    

4.  Dr. Leonard Hofstadter - Good ole Leonard.  Growing up with a world famous child psychiatrist and neuroscientist mother who severely lacked expressing any love at all, Leonard is probably the closest to not being a geek of all "the boys".  The lesson that we learn from Leonard is pretty straight forward: be consistent, be steady and never give up.  An important lesson in communicating, Leonard demonstrated this with his consistent pursuit of Penny. 

5.  Dr.  Sheldon Cooper - Perhaps one of the most kookiest characters on TV right now, Sheldon is hilarious.  How the writers came up with the idea of someone like Sheldon is fun in itself.  Part child, part man, part human being who is borderline insane, Sheldon demonstrates one of the most important things that we can learn from The Big Bang Theory.  Lesson learned from Sheldon:  with continuous support from your team, individuals can learn from others in order to become better at a task, as a co-worker, as a person.  Like communications should be, it is a two-way street.  People have to want to help you, rather than just shut you out.   

Finally, the overall lesson that we can take away from the characters on The Big Bang Theory:  be true, be loyal, be honest, and always share.  These are simple tenants to good communications. 

Do you follow these tenants?  Do you share or do you shut people out?

Photos obviously courtesy of The Big Bang Theory